PtRu Particles Supported on Two-dimensional Titanium Carbide/Carbon Nanotubes: Preparation and Electrocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells have good application prospects due to their advantages of convenient operation, high conversion efficiency, low operating temperature, low pollution, and easy storage and easy transportation of liquid fuel. However, existing anode catalysts have shortcomings such as low catalytic activity and poor resistance to CO toxicity which restrict its commercial application. In this study, a series of PtRu/(Ti3C2Tx)0.5-(MWCNTs)0.5 anode catalyst materials with different Pt and Ru ratios were prepared by three-step method. Ti3C2Tx was obtained by HF corrosion of Ti3AlC2, and acidified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). After the compounding, Pt and Ru particles are supported by a solvothermal method. The synergistic relationship of Ru and Pt atoms was analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, and XPS. The results show that the Ru atoms are mixed with the Pt atoms to form PtRu bimetallic alloy with a particle size of about 3.6 nm. The electrochemical results show that the Pt1Ru0.5/(Ti3C2Tx)0.5-(MWCNTs)0.5 catalyst has the best electrochemical performance. Its electrochemical active area (ECSA) is 139.5 m2/g, and positive peak current density is 36.4 mA/cm2.